Woman Sues Zoo Over Giraffe Kiss

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) _ A zoo visitor is suing over a tongue lashing she received from a giraffe.

Jennifer Jordan, 28, of Sylvester, Ga., claims she left Zoo World in this Florida Panhandle resort city with neck, back and shoulder injuries on Oct. 25, 1994, her lawyer said Tuesday.

The giraffe put his head over the fence when a zookeeper came to feed the animal and its long tongue came in contact with Ms. Jordan's hair, said attorney Paul Parker.

``It got tangled in her pony tail and lifted her several feet off the ground,'' Parker said. ``She was dropped from a height.''

He said the suit was filed March 19 in Circuit Court in nearby Panama City after the zoo's insurer refused to settle. She is seeking damages for more than $8,000 in medical bills plus pain and suffering, Parker said.

``They did nothing to stop the giraffe from putting its head over the fence and perhaps did nothing to save her from further harm once the giraffe got a hold of her because the worker was right there,'' Parker said.

Zoo World manager Chris Byrd had gone for the day late Tuesday afternoon and was unavailable for comment.